Folding cart

ABSTRACT

A folding cart that includes a front frame, a rear frame pivotally connected with the front frame, rollers or wheels on both frames, a seat pivotally attached to both frames for supporting an occupant, and a third frame pivotally attached to the rear frame and movable to a forward position to function as a stabilizer for the cart when the front and rear frames are in partly folded position and is movable to an upright position when the front and rear frames are in completely folded position when the cart is being shipped or stored side by side with other like carts.

United States Patent Cerveny et al.

[ FOLDING CART [72] Inventors: Daniel H. Cerveny, 4886 Noyes, San

Diego, Calif. 92109; Perry T. Johnson, 5588 Chelsea Street, La Jolla,Calif. 92037; Donald H. Gaston, 3066 McGraw, San Diego, Calif. 92117[22] Filed: July 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,532

[52] US. Cl ..280/41 A, 280/47.19, 280/47.2, 280/4726, 280/4734,297/DIG. 4

' 51 1m. (:1. ..B62b 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/47.2, 36 B, 41 A,47.24, 280/4735, 47.38, 47.19; 297/DIG. 4, 129

[ 56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS A 7 V H 7 2,685,325 8/1954Webster 28 01 41 A [451 Nov. 28, 1972 3,647,236 3/1972 Hayes ..280/47.2

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-David M. MitchellAttorney-Warren H. F. Schmieding ABSTRACT A folding cart that includes afront frame, a rear frame pivotally connected with the front frame,rollers or wheels on both frames, a seat pivotally attached tobothframes for supporting an occupant, and a third; frame pivotally attachedto the rear frame and movable to a forward position to function as astabilizer for the can when the front and rear frames are in partlyifolded position and is movable to an upright position? when the frontand rear frames are in completely folded position when the cart is beingshipped or stored side by side with other like carts.

PATENTEnuuvze I972 3.704.025

SHEET 1 OF 2 DA L H. CERVENY PE OHN DONAL GAS Wmfw PATENTED Nov 28 I972SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

DANIEL H-CERVENY PERRY T..JOHNSON DONALD H GASTON FOLDING CARTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The inventioncomprises carts having front and rear frames that are pivotallyconnected with one another and are pivotally connected with a seat.These frames and seat are foldable upon one another to conserve storagespace.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art in general shows thefoldable carts and such art is disclosed in the patents to Binder, us.Pat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cart includes a font and rear framepivotally connected with one another through a pair of links. A seat ispivotally connected to both frames in a manner which it is inoccupant-supporting position when the front and rear frames are spread.Each frame includes a pair of legs carrying rollers or wheels. Astabilizing frame is pivotally connected to the lower portion of therear frame. It can be moved to a position lying forwardly of the frontframe for stabilizing the cart when the frames are in partly foldedposition, and it can be moved to an upright position at the rear of therear frame for completely folding the cart.

Other features and the advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS front and rear frames are in partlyfolded position but DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cart 10includes three frames, to wit: a front frame 12, a rear frame 14 and astabilizing frame 16. Front frame 12 has an inverted U-shape including aright leg 18, a left leg 20, and a yoke 22.

The rear frame 14 includes two sections; namely, a right section 24 anda left section 26. These sections 24 and 26 are formed from tubing, thetube 24 having an upright portion or leg 28, a lower horizontal portion30 and an intermediate portion which extends rearwardly and downwardfrom upright portion 28. Tube 26 is allochiral with respect to tube 24in that it includes an upright portion or leg 34, a lower horizontalportion 36 and an intermediate portion 38. A rod or pipe 39 (see FIG. 4)interconnects the confronting ends'of the lower portions 30 and 36 ofthe sections to form a yoke for the rear frame 14, and also to form ahorizontally extending bearing. The intermediate portions each haswelded thereto an axle support 40 and these supports each carry an axle41 for rear wheels 42. v

The stabilizing frame 16 is Y-shaped including a yoke 43 which isjoumaled on the rod 39, an extension 44 and two outwardly extending legs46 and 48. A horizontally extending brace 50 is engaged by the legs 46and 48. The ends of the legs carry rollers 52 and 54, respectively.

Referring more in detail to the front and rear frames 12 and 14, thelower ends of legs 18 and 20 of frame 12 are interconnected by a brace56, an the ends of those legs are supported respectively by rollers 58and 60. Links 62 and 64 connect the front frame 12 with rear frame 14,the links being connected to intermediate portions of the legs 18 and 20of the front frame by pivots 66 and to the upper portions of legs 24 and26 of the rear frame by pivots 68. The right leg 24 of the rear frame isaligned rearwardly with the right leg 18 of the front frame, and theleft leg 26 of the rear frame is aligned rearwardly with the left leg 20of the front frame. The tops of the legs of the rear frame formabutments which are engaged by the rear sides of front legs 18 and 20when the frames are spread to the position shown in FIG. 1 and therebylimit further spreading of the frames.

A second brace 70 interconnects the legs of the front frame 12. A seat72 has its rear portion pivotally attached to the legs 28 and 34 of therear frame by pivots 74 and its intermediate portion attached to thelegs 18 and 20 of the front frame 12 by pivots 76. This seat rests uponthe brace 70 when the seat is in occupantsupporting position as shown inFIG. 1.

A back rest 79 spans and is suitably attached to the legs 18 and 20 ofthe front frame. A brace 80 -is disposed below the back rest and a seatretainer 82 is pivotally connected with the brace 80. This retainer canbe swung to the position shown in FIG. 2 for retaining the seat 72 inits folded position. Handlebars 84 are suitably fixed to the legs 18 and20 of the front frame.

The stabilizing frame 16 can be swung to its forward position as shownin FIG. 1. Resilient and flexible latch mechanisms 78 are carried by theunderside of brace 50 (see FIG. 2) for retaining the frame 16 in theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The stabilizing frame has no function to perform when the cart is in theoccupant-supporting position shown in FIG. 1, it being supported by thelatch 78, but it is used to stabilize the cart when it is temporarilynot in use. Such stabilizing is shown in FIG. 2. When the cart is to bestored or shipped, the stabilizing frame is metal strips 88 that aresuitably welded to the lower portions 30 and 36 of sections 24 and 26,respectively, and the brace 50.

The frames 12, 14 and 16 are formed of metal tubings and the braces arewelded to these tubings. A magazine rack can be carried by the undersideof the seat. i

From the foregoing it is readily apparent that by virtue of the presentinvention, there has been provided a cat particularly suitable for useby invalids having need for oxygen, which cart can be readily folded tooccupy minimal space and which can be moved readily from its foldedposition to an occupant-supporting position. The cart also can be movedreadily from its folded position or from its occupant-supportingposition to a semifolded position, in which latter position it isstabilized in an upright position.

Too, the frames of the cart are formed of metal tubing to which braces,etc., can be readily welded resulting in a sturdy structure that can bemanufactured at a relatively low cost.

Having defined our invention, we claim:

1. A foldable cart, comprising in combination:

A. a front frame including:

1 legs at opposite sides thereof, 2. roller means carried at the lowerends of the legs; I

B. a rear frame including:

1. legs on opposite sides thereof,

2. a yoke interconnecting the lower portions of the legs of the rearframe, I

3. axle means attached to the legs of the rear frame,

4. a stop intermediate the legs of the rear frame;

C. wheels on the axle means;

D. means for pivotally attaching the front frame to the rear frame;

E. a seat;

F. means for pivotally attaching the rear portion of the seat to therear frame;

G. means for pivotally attaching the seat intermediate the front andrear thereof to legs of the front frame;

H. a third frame including:

1. leg means, 2. roller means connected to the outer portion of the legmeans;

I. means for pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the leg means tothe yoke of the real" frame, said leg means being movable to oppositesides of the front frame whereby the roller means on the third mentionedframe can function as such;

J. a latch attached to the stop on the rear framefor retaining the legmeans of the third mentioned frame in fixed position when the leg meansextends toward the front frame.

2. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that theroller means on the legs of the front frame comprise a roller disposedon the lower end of each leg.

3. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the stopcomprises a brace between thelegs of the rear frame.

4. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized to include:

K. a brace between the legs of the front frame; L. means pivotallymounted on the brace for latch-ing the seat in an upright position.

5. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the legmeans of the third mentioned frame includes two legs that are connectedwith the yoke of the rear frame.

6. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that theupper portions of the legs of the rear frame form abutments that areadapted to engage the legs of the front frame to limit the spreading ofthe front and rear frames when the said frames are moved to position forsupporting a person on the seat.

1. A foldable cart, comprising in combination: A. a front frameincluding:
 1. legs at opposite sides thereof,
 2. roller means carried atthe lower ends of the legs; B. a rear frame including:
 1. legs onopposite sides thereof,
 2. a yoke interconnecting the lower portions ofthe legs of the rear frame,
 3. axle means attached to the legs of therear frame,
 4. a stop intermediate the legs of the rear frame; C. wheelson the axle means; D. means for pivotally attaching the front frame tothe rear frame; E. a seat; F. means for pivotally attaching the rearportion of the seat to the rear frame; G. means for pivotally attachingthe seat intermediate the front and rear thereof to legs of the frontframe; H. a third frame including:
 1. leg means,
 2. roller meansconnected to the outer portion of the leg means; I. means for pivotallyconnecting the opposite ends of the leg means to the yoke of the rearframe, said leg means being movable to opposite sides of the front framewhereby the roller means on the third mentioned frame can function assuch; J. a latch attached to the stop on the rear frame for retainingthe leg means of the third mentioned frame in fixed position when theleg means extends toward the front frame.
 2. roller means carried at thelower ends of the legs; B. a rear frame including:
 2. a yokeinterconnecting the lower portions of the legs of the rear frame, 2.roller means connected to the outer portion of the leg means; I. meansfor pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the leg means to the yokeof the rear frame, said leg means being movable to opposite sides of thefront frame whereby the roller means on the third mentioned frame canfunction as such; J. a latch attached to the stop on the rear frame forretaining the leg means of the third mentioned frame in fixed positionwhen the leg means extends toward the front frame.
 2. A foldable cart asdefined in claim 1, characterized in that the roller means on the legsof the front frame comprise a roller disposed on the lower end of eachleg.
 3. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that thestop comprises a brace between the legs of the rear frame.
 3. axle meansattached to the legs of the rear frame,
 4. a stop intermediate the legsof the rear frame; C. wheels on the axle means; D. means for pivotallyattaching the front frame to the rear frame; E. a seat; F. means forpivotally attaching the rear portion of the seat to the rear frame; G.means for pivotally attaching the seat intermediate the front and rearthereof to legs of the front frame; H. a third frame including:
 4. Afoldable cart as defined in claim 1, characterized to include: K. abrace between the legs of the front frame; L. means pivotally mounted onthe brace for latching the seat in an upright position.
 5. A foldablecart as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the leg means of thethird mentioned frame includes two legs that are connected with the yokeof the rear frame.
 6. A foldable cart as defined in claim 1,characterized in that the upper portions of the legs of the rear frameform abutments that are adapted to engage the legs of the front frame tolimit the spreading of the front and rear frames when the said framesare moved to position for supporting a person on the seat.